Billy King was asked yesterday whether he was the one who pulled off the three-way trade that brought 6-foot-7 forward Kenny Thomas to Philadelphia in December.

"Next question," the 76ers president and general manager said to laughter.

While King evaded any controversy about how he and Larry Brown, the departed head coach and vice president for basketball operations, split roles last season, there was no question about who sealed a deal to keep Thomas in a Sixers uniform.

Thomas, a four-year pro who averaged 10.2 points and a team-leading 8.5 rebounds in 46 regular-season games for the Sixers, was at the First Union Center yesterday when King announced that the team had signed the restricted free agent.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but it is believed that Thomas accepted a contract worth about $40 million over seven years. He came to the Sixers from the Houston Rockets in a trade that involved the Denver Nuggets.

Yesterday was the first day that NBA teams could sign free agents.

"It feels real good," said Thomas, who will turn 26 a week from tomorrow. "Just being able to play in the NBA, I mean, this is just like a dream come true. Being able to come back to Philadelphia, and now this is going to be my home. I just wanted to get it done. My biggest focus if I came back was that I wanted the ball a little more, and I think we're going to try and get that done."